HEKS/EPER is making a difference in the «Social inclusion» in Colombia

The over 50-year old armed conflict between Government and FARC rebels, single-crop farming for export and biofuel production as well as mining projects all combine to jeopardize the livelihoods of rural communities in Colombia and give rise to forcible evictions. The civilian population gets caught up in the conflict owing to the militarization of daily life and the demands being made by armed groups. The consequences are serious human rights violations, violence, poverty, hunger, displacement, as well as the destruction of social networks and traditional values. Through its projects, HEKS/EPER strives to help create a more just and peaceful society and to improve the livelihoods of internally displaced families and rural communities.

Facts

In 2017, some 2800 people living in conflict situations were reached through peace initiatives or protective measures.

Ever more people are being excluded because of their social background, ethnicity, age, gender or religion. Integrating people with a migration background can be compounded, for example, by the lack of the requisite language proficiency, ignorance of Switzerland's cultural specificities or by disadvantages on the job market. HEKS/EPER works actively to ensure that the affected people have access to education, work, government programmes and services. But integration is incumbent on society as a whole, which calls for openness as well as regulatory structures that ensure the right of social participation for all. This implies that everyone has the same rights and opportunities and that features such as gender, age, social background, nationality or religion do not give rise to discrimination.